Humidifier boiler



Oct. 18, 1938. L. L. TURNEY HUMIDIFIER BOILER Filed Oct. 16, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 18, 1938. L, TURNEY HUMIDIFIER BOILER Filed Oct. 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 18, 1938. TURNEY 7 2,133,599

HUMIDIFIER BOILER Filed Oct. 16, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hi? 7 II fiz/ezzior I Patented Oct. 18, 1938 PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER BOILER Lee L. Tumey, Muskegon, Mich., assignor of onehalf to William M. Tippett, Muskegon, Mich.

Application October 16, 1935, Serial No. 45,227

2 Claims.

My invention relates to humidifiers, and especially humidifiers used in connection with hot air and radiator types of domestic heating systems.

5 One object of my invention is the supply of Water vapor to the space being heated, in quantities and at times automatically regulated substantially in accordance with requirements for maintaining a uniform degree of humidity therein, and preferably without recourse to hygrostatic control apparatus. This objective I realize in general by the use of a small boiler exposed to the combustion chamber of the heating furnace or boiler. Water vapor in the form of steam [5 generated in the boiler is supplied to the discharge ducts of the furnace or to the air stream across the radiator, as the case may be. The humidity drop in heating intake or infiltrating outside air up to room temperature, increases in 20 general as the outside temperature lowers and requires increased firing. As a result the amount of water vapor required to maintain a constant room humidity is substantially proportional to the quantity of heat (or fuel consumption) re- 25 quired by the heating furnace or boiler. The

boiler, which is in the combustion chamber, generates steam for humidiflcation at such time as, and in proportion to, the fuel consumption requirement from time to time of the heating plant, 30 and thereby in accordance with the additional quantity of moisture required for maintaining a constant degree of room humidity.

For a fuller realization of this objective, I withhold the boiler from substantial heat conducting a contact with the water jackets of the boiler or air jackets of the furnace, as the case may be, so that the amount of steam generated in the boiler will be subject only to the fuel consumption in the combustion chamber and not lessened 40 by dissipation of heat from the boiler to the jacket in varying amounts, depending in part upon the temperature of the water or cold air entering the jacket.

Another object of my invention is the ready 45 removal of the accumulations of lime and other sediment precipitated in the boiling of the water. I prefer to accomplish this object by interposing a settling chamber between the float chamber, which controls the feed of water to the boiler, and 5 the boiler where the steam is generated. The chamber and boiler are so arranged that the major portion of the precipitated matter while held in suspension by the agitation of the boiling in the boiler, finds its way to the quiet of the 55 settling chamber, where it settles to the bottom thereof, and it can readily be removed by means of a bottom closure plate or drain plug. Settling out of sedimentary matter is preferably furthered by raising the temperature of the water in the settling chamber in part by steam communica- 5 tion between the boiler and settling chamber, in part by heat conduction through the water and steam conduits, and in part by the return of incidental condensed steam to the settling tank.

Another object of my invention is to supply 10.

water vapor to rooms heated by radiators in such a manner that the water vapor is delivered where the air is the warmest and thus best able to hold the water vapor, and in general at such times as the radiators are warmest, as distinguished from delivering water vapor during periods when the radiators are relatively cold. In this connection I also provide means for receiving and returning to the system any water vapor which may condense on radiators, and this return is preferably made in such a manner as not to interfere with the continued supply of vapor.

Other objects of my invention are concerned with an improved float valve for the humidifier, improved control for the supply of vapor, and an adjustable mounting for the boiler whereby its degree of exposure to the heat of the combustion chamber may be varied.

The foregoing together with further objects and features of my invention are set forth in the following description of specific embodiments thereof and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through .35 a preferred form of steam generating vapor unit of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlargement of the left-hand end of Fig. l to show the details of the float valve;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a hot air furnace to which my humidifier has been applied;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a hot water or steam boiler for domestic heating to which my humidifier has been applied, showing also a floor thereabove in cross section with radiators to the air stream of which my humidifier supplies vapor;

Fig. 5 is a plan section through the furnace of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan section through a furnace, similar to Fig. 5, but showing a modified adjustable mounting for the boiler within the combustion chamber;

Fig. '7 is a detailed vertical section through the 5 furnace feed door showing the modified mounting of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a hygrostatic control for the vapor feed from the humidifier; Fig. 9 is a view somewhat similar to the upper part of Fig. 4, but showing a modified arrangement for delivering vapor to the radiators and returning condensed vapor; and

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of steam trap.

Referring first to Fig. 1, which is a detailed cross section of the humidity generating unit itself which is mounted with its boiler in the combustion chamber of the furnace or boiler, the vapor generating unit comprises in general the boiler I5, a float chamber l6 and a settling chamber ll interposed between the boiler and float chamber, with the boiler mounted within the combustion chamber and the float and settling chambers mounted without the boiler or furnace.

The float chamber I8 is fed by a water supply tube l8, the end of which is coupled to a valve sleeve 49, which in turn is screw threaded onto a valve body 20 to leave a valve chamber within the sleeve. The valve body is in the form of a shouldered plug which is inserted through a wall of the float chamber and secured in position on the wall by a clamping nut 2!. Within the chamber afforded by the valve sleeve I9 is a movable valve 22 comprising a valve head which embraces the backside and peripheral edges of a live rubber valve washer 23 and is mounted on a valve stem 24. The valve stem 24 extends through a central bore 25 of the valve body, water passage between the bore and the valve stem being afforded by slots 28 extending longitudinally in the bore. The adjacent end of the valve body 20 is formed as a valve seat 2'! somewhat rounded in radial section and adapted to seal against the washer 23. The valve is normally urged closed by the spring 28 interposed between the valve head and the sleeve 19 and is further urged to closed position by the pressure of the water from the supply tube I8.

The float actuating mechanism for the valve comprises a pair of pivot ears 28 on the valve body 20 for journaling the pivot pin 30 which passes through the inner end of a float lever 3| of I-shape cross section, the outer end of the lever carrying a hollow metal float 32. The float lever 3| is of generally L-shaped form with the short leg of the L depending more or less vertically from the pivot pin and the long leg extending more or less horizontally to the float from the bottom of the short leg. Through the vertical short leg of the lever and in substantial alignment with the axis of the valve stem, an adjusting screw is theaded and adjustably held by a lock nut 33' with theend of the screw abutting the end of the valve stem.

When the water level in the float chamber drops below a predetermined line, the float, acting through the float lever and adjusting screw, will push against the end of the valve stem with suflicient force to open the valve against the pressure of the valve spring and the pressure of the water in the supply line, and once the valve is opened, the valve closing force of the water pressure will be greatly reduced, whereby something of a snap action is afforded to insure a maximum opening of the valve which will avoid the lodgment of particles on the valve washer. A similar snap action is afforded when the valve is closed by the water level in the float chamber rising above a predetermined line.

The interior of the valve is readily accessible for cleaning or for replacement of the washer, should occasion ever require. The water feed tube I8 is disconnected from the sleeve l8 and then the sleeve is unscrewed from the valve body exposing all of the moving parts and the valve seat. An entire new valve assembly, including the stem, head and washer, can readily be substituted. This does not require removal of the cover It of the float chamber.

In practice very little sediment will accumulate in the bottom of the float chamber because the water therein is relatively cool. A considerable space is allowed below the working limits of the float, however, for the accumulation of sediment which can readily be removed by unscrewing the drain plug 34.

As an additional precaution against the remote possibility of the float valve failing to close, I provide an overflow opening [611 through a vertical wall of the float chamber of greater capacity than the maximum inlet to the float chamber, which will maintain a water level but slightly above the level maintained by the float valve.

The settling chamber l1 preferably immediately adjoins the float chamber and communicates therewith by registering passages 35 and 36 in the adjacent walls of the float chamber and settling chamber, respectively, which may conveniently be secured together by tie bolts 31. Water passing from the float chamber into the settling chamber passes on through a boiler inlet pipe 38, preferably opposite the passage 36 in the settling chamber, to the lower end of the boiler l5. From the upper end o the boiler a steam discharge pipe 39, preferably parallel with the pipe 38, leads back to the settling chamber at a height above the water level.

For ease of assembly I provide the usual unions 40 and 4| for the pipes 38 and 38. These pipes extend through spaced holes in the furnace or boiler wall 42 to which they are flxed by clamping nuts 43 whereby the boiler is supported in the combustion chamber a predetermined distance inwardly from the wall 42.

Surface extenuating fins 44 are integrally cast into the bottom portion of the boiler and a clean out plug 45 is provided at the end of the boiler.

The settling chamber l1 serves the manifold purposes of carrying water from the float chamber to the boiler, of aiding in precipitating some of the lime or other precipitable matter from the water before it reaches the boiler, of a quiescent settling pot for settling out solid matter precipitated in the boiler and carried in suspension by the water back to the settling chamber, of a clean-out for the bulk of the precipitated matter, of an expansion or steam chamber for receiving steam generated in the boiler, and of a chamber for a regulating damper directing the steam to a vapor supply pipe or to waste.

The upper end of the settling chamber, which is here shown as of vertical cylindrical construction, is closed by a cap 46 threaded to receive the lower end of an outlet pipe 41 for humidifying vapor-vapor to be used for humidifyingand a waste pipe 48 for vaporwhich is not to be used for humidifying. A damper 49 is mounted in the cap 46 by means of a pivot pin 58 and so arranged that in one position it closes off the outlet pipe 41 and in the alternate position it closes the waste pipe 48. A damper arm 58' on the exposed end of the pivot pin 50 permits manipulation of the damper. If it is found that the boiler is generating steam at a faster rate than required for the desired humidity, the damper, which is normally in a position to close off the waste pipe 48, may be moved to permit the waste of a certain portion of the steam generated. Or, if the humidifying is to be. entirely eliminated temporarily, the damper may be swung to close ofl the outlet pipe 41.

Steam which has been generated in the boiler and which fills the steam discharge pipe 39 and the settling compartment above the water level, serves to heat the walls thereof and impart that heat to the quiescent water in the lower part of the settling chamber. This serves to elevate the temperature of the water as it is fed from the float chamber to a point where a considerable amount of the lime and other such matter in the water is precipitated and, the water in the settling chamber being quiet, settles in the bottom. There is, especially in the instance of the application of my humidifier to radiators as dis-- tingulshed from hot air furnaces, and as will later be described, a certain amount of condensed vapor which runs back through the outlet pipe 41 to the settling chamber where it adds to the heat of the water therein. There is also a certain amount of direct heat conductivity through the metal of the pipes 38 and 39 also serving to maintain a substantially elevated temperature of the water in the settling chamber.

Because of the high temperature in the boiler and the distilling effect of boiling off of water there, a considerable amount of lime and other matter brought in in solution in the water is precipitated out of solution in the boiler, but due to the turbulence of the boiling water the precipitated matter for the most part stays in suspension and disributes itself back through the water inlet pipe 38 and into the settling chamber. The diameter of the water inlet pipe 38 is preferably so large in proportion to the rate of water feed that the speed of flow of the water is less than the rate at which suspended matter will dissipate itself through the pipe 38 back to the settling tank. Once in the quiet of the settling tank, it will settle to the bottom. In this way, as I have found from experience, some 90% of the total volume of precipitated matter will accumulate in the bottom of the settling tank. The settling tank has ample volume below the pipe 38 and the passage 36 for the accommodaion of a few months accumulation of precipitated matter. From time to time it may readily be removed by shutting off the water supply valve and removing the bottom closure plate of he settling tank by means of the cap screws 52.

Because the water level maintained by the float valve is below the steam discharge pipe 39, there is no water circulating circuit established tending to create currens which would interfere with the quiescence of the water in the settling tank.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the vapor generating unit of my humidifier installed in a conventional type of hot air furnace 55. The supply water for the float chamber is preferably taken from the household water supply line 53 by means of a saddle valve 54 to which the water supply tube I8 is connected. The saddle valve is adjusted to cut the water supply atthe prevailing water pressure down to the maximum rate at which the water is to be boiled off in the steam generator. This likewise limits an excessive discharge of water through the overflow passage 35 in the float chamber in the event the float valve should fail to close. In this installation the furnace wall-42 of Fig. 1 is preferably the single thickness of the frame of .the feed door I56 as shown best in Fig. 3, the boiler l5 being disposed within the combustion chamber 51 of the furnace and near one lateral side thereof. The vapor outlet pipe 41 leading from the settling chamber I I is extended horizontally inwardly at 58 through the crown of the air Jacket 59 of the furnace, and preferably terminates centrally thereof whereby the vapor is equally distributed to the several hot air ducts 60, whence the undivided air is led into the rooms through the usual hot air regisers.

Whether the furnace burn coal, gas or fuel oil, or whether it be of the continuous or intermittent firing type, the water boiling heat, and even the heat which will vaporize the water short of boiling temperature, is in proportion to the heat supplied to the heating system for maintaining the room temperature. As explained in the in roduction to this specification, this causes the delivery of water vapor by the humidifier substantially as and in the amounts required to maintain the desired humidity in the rooms, even though the outside temperature varies greatly and even though the room temperature is varied from time to time.

In the instance of a coal fired furnace or boiler where it is of advantage to have water vapor supplied to the fuel for better combustion, the vapor waste pipe 48 from the settling chamber may be connected with an ash pit pipe 6| to deliver waste vapors to the ash pit at such times as the damper 49 may be adjusted partially or wholly to open the waste pipe 48.

In Fig. 4 I have shown my humidity generator applied to the instance of a hot water or steam boiler 65 where, similarly, the boiler is mounted in the combustion chamber by passing the pipes 41 and 48 through a single thickness of metal in the frame of the feed door 61, if possible.

I have indicated in Fig. 4 radiators on the floor above which are served by the boiler. The vapor outlet pipe 41 is connected with vapor tubing 10 which leads to condensate traps 'Il below the fioor and beneath each radiator. length of vertical pipe 12 leads from the trap H through the floor and communicates with the drain pan 13, one of which is located beneath each radiator 14 served by the humidifier. Each drain pan I3 may comprise a lower upstanding vertical side 15 and a bottom 16 sloping to the communication of the vertical pipe 12.

Vapor generated in the boiler passes through the upper part of the settling tank 46 through the vapor outlet pipe 41, the vapor tubing 10, the trap H, and the vertical pipe 12 and into the stream of air rising upwardly from the bottom of the radiator. Until the radiator has been sumciently heated, there may be some condensation of the vapor thus supplied, but this condensed vapor gravitates to the bottom of the sections of the radiator and drops into the drain pan I3, whence it is drained into the trap H. The trap II is sufliciently heated by the steam passing therethrough to re-evaporate the condensate caught in the trap.

Except for such steam as is condensed under the circumstances mentioned-and all thus condensed will drainback into the drain pan-all of the steam will be delivered to the air where it is the warmest in the room and where, by virtue of A short its being heated'b'y the radiator, the air will be of sufllciently high temperature to absorb the moisture and distributed throughout the room without further condensation. There is generally a certain amount of lag in time between the generation of the steam in the flash boiler and the heating of the radiators, especially in hot water heating systems. That, however, is a relatively brief delay. In general, it will be observed, the delivery of moisture by my humidifier is at the time when the radiators are warm. Also, the'rate at which moisture is supplied is more or less in proportion to the temperature to which the radiators are heated. Thus the moisture is supplied to the air passing over the radiator at the time of and in proportion to the capacity of the air, due to the heating thereof by the radiator, to receive and absorb and distribute the moisture.

As compared with water evaporating pans which are heated by the radiators themselves or by the air passing therefrom, my humidity supply by steam generation in the combustion chamber has the advantage of being more quickly supplied in response to intermittent firing periods and, even more important, the moisture may be supplied in greater volume and better automatically controlled quantitatively to supply the requisite amount of moisture to maintain a constant percentage of humidity.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a modified form of communication between the vapor outlet pipe 41 and the drain pans 13, which is distinguished by the inclusion of a separate condensate return from the trap H to the vapor, outlet pipe 41. Each condensate return tube or pipe 11 leads from the bottom of the associated trap I l, whereby the returning condensate does not interfere with the travel of the vapor.

For certain types of installation, it may be desirable to provide an adjustment as between the fuel consumption and the steam generated for humidifying the air. For serving the purpose of this adjustment, I may provide a mounting for the boiler whereby its position in the combustion chamber may be changed to bring it closer to or farther away from zones of greatest heat.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown such an adjustable mounting for the boiler. Here the spaced parallel water inlet pipe 38 and steam discharge pipe 39 pass through the feed door rather than the frame for the feed door. They do not directly engage holes in the feed door, however, but instead they pass through, and are slidably journaled in, the respective bores of a Siamese twin sleeve casting 18, which, in turn passes through suitably spaced holes in the feed. door and is secured to the feed door by the mounting screw 19. This slidable mounting of the pipes 38 and 39 permits the boiler to be inserted to the central zone of the combustion chamber for greater heating effect, or withdrawn toward the marginal zone of the combustion chamber for a lesser heating efiect. By experiment the optimum position of the boiler for given circumstances may be determined.

Such an installation as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is recommended only where the furnace or boiler burns gas or oil and where the feed door need be opened but infrequently. When it is necessary to open the feed door, the parallel pipes 38 and 39 can be withdrawn outwardly until the boiler comes against the inside of the feed door, so that when the feed door is swung open the boiler will clear the frame of the door. Since this involves a swinging of the boiler-settling chamber-float chamber-unit, the water feed to the float chamber is preferably through a flexible hose l8. Similarly a flexible section would be embodied in the vapor outlet pipe 41.

While for most practical purposes an original installation with proper balance between the vapor generation and fuel combustion will maintain a satisfactory degree of humidity in the rooms, I contemplate that if desired for greater accuracy or unusual circumstances, a hygrostatio control may be provided for my humidifier.

I have shown such a hygrostatic control in Fig. 8. A hygrostat 80 is mounted in the room space to be heated and through a suitable electric circuit controls a motor driven actuating device 8| which, through a chain 82, lifts, or permits to drop, the weighted extension arm 83 for the damper arm 58'. Upon an increase of relative humidity beyond a predetermined degree, the hygrostat actuates to close or partially close the vapor outlet pipe 41, while on a drop of relative humidity below the predetremined degree, the hygrostat acts to move the damper to open the outlet pipe 41 and, if necessary, to close the discharge to the waste pipe 48.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modified form of steam trap II which may be substituted for the steam trap 'II. From the top of the trap H the pipe 12 leads through the flooring to the drain pan 13. The vapor conduit 10 is led to the lower end of the trap. An upstanding steam passage 85 is formed in the lower portion of the steam trap and extends from the floor 88 thereof to an intermediate height and is preferably cast integral with the steam trap by suitable coring. The lower end of the steam passage 85 is substantially in line with and receives steam from the conduit 10. An opening in the bottom wall 88 of the main chamber of the trap communicates with a horizontal passageway 81 formed below the bottom wall 86. At the end of the passageway 81 adjacent the steam conduit 10 is a low upstanding wall 89. Adjacent the other end of the passageway 81, the bottom wall is provided with a depending lip 88' which extends below the upper end of the wall 89. The passageway 81 thus will form a water sealed trap by virtue of condensate accumulated in the bottom of the trap ll.

Because the diameter, of the passage 85 is somewhat less than the diameter of the steam conduit 18, the pressure will be somewhat less in the main chamber of the trap than in the small space surrounding the upstanding wall 89 above the steam conduit 18. The trap ll will thus act as an expansion chamber to reduce the pressure of the steam passing out through the outlet pipe 12 to the exterior of the radiator. Also this pressure differential will permit condensate to fill up the lower portion of the trap I i to a considerable height and maintain a large body of accumulated condensate so that it will not run down the steam conduit 18 while steam is being generated. At

the close of the fire period the collapse of pressure within the trap l1 and the consequent equalization of pressures therein will permit the accumulated condensate to flow through the passage 81 and over the wall 89 and down the steam conduit 18 back to the settling chamber at a time when it will not interfere with the up-travel of the steam.

While I have shown and described these specific embodiments of my invention, I contemplate that many changes may be made therein without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A humidiiying apparatus for supplying water vapor to the space heated by a heating plant, comprising a boiler, means for supporting the boiler within, and subject to the heat of, the combustion chamber of the heating plant, a settling chamber without the combustion chamber, a water feed conduit from the settling chamber to the boiler, a steam feed conduit from the boiler to the settling chamber, means for supplying water to the settling chamber to maintain a water level therein above the water feed conduit and below the steam feed conduit, a vapor discharge conduit from the settling chamber above the water level for delivering vapor to the-air heated by the plant, a waste vapor passage also communicating with the settling chamber above the water level, and a damper mounted in the settling chamber to swing between two positions,

one position shutting off the vapor discharge conduit and the other position shutting off the waste vapor passage.

2. In a humidifying apparatus, in combination a fire door, a fitting mounted thereon having a pair of bores open to both sides of the door, a boiler on the inside of the door, a precipitation chamber on the outer side of the door, and pipes passing through said bores connecting said boiler and chamberand slidable therein, whereby the boiler may be moved outwardly into a position to enable the door to be opened.

LEE L. 'I'URNEY. 

